HIGH-COST VICTORY 24th straight win caps perfect regular season, but Milton goes down with severe knee injury
TAMPA — As the UCF players and coaches drifted into the locker room following the Knights’ 38-10 win over USF Friday evening, the message was clear: Play for No. 10.
The win over the Bulls wrapped up another perfect regular season for the No. 9 Knights (11-0, 8-0 AAC) and extended the nation’s longest win streak to 24 games, but it was overshadowed by the loss of starting quarterback McKenzie Milton to a gruesome leg injury.
UCF jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter after Milton shook off an early interception and led the offense on a 97-yard scoring drive, the longest of the season, capped by a 14-yard throw from the junior quarterback to Gabe Davis for a touchdown.
On the next possession, however, the Knights’ dramatic shift.
Milton scrambled in an attempt to convert on third down. but he crumbled to the ground after being tackled by several USF players. He remained on the ground as the athletic training staff quickly rushed over to attend to him.
The severity of Milton’s injury was immediately clear to players, with senior offensive lineman Wyatt Miller kneeling on the ground with his hands on his head as Milton received treatment.
UCF players and coaches made their way across the field to support their injured teammate, forming a semi-circle around him as the medical cart made its way onto the field. USF players and coaches also surrounded Milton.
After about 10 minutes, he was strapped onto an emergency backboard and placed on the cart. Milton was then transported to a season took a Tampa hospital. UCF officials declined to provide further details about the extent of the injury during the game.
“I haven’t seen the injury. My immediate concern is his well-being,” UCF coach Josh Heupel said. “I told him that I loved him. He was aware and said the same thing back.
“It’s hard. I’m proud of our kids and how they responded. Our thoughts and prayers are with him right now.”
UCF resumed play after Milton gave teammates and the crowd a thumbs-up as he left the field on the back of a cart. The Knights kicked a 42-yard field goal to push the lead to 10-0.
Darriel Mack Jr. replaced Milton at quarterback, but it was tailback Greg McCrae who stepped up in a big way. The sophomore